Abstract:

Voluntary turnover intentions of academic staff in South African higher education institutions (HEIs) are escalating. High turnover of academics present several challenges to higher education such as additional costs for the induction and training of new staff, loss of research outputs and organisational productivity, and reduced quality of teaching due to mid-semester replacements of lecturers. Therefore higher education institutions need to become more talent intelligent and retain quality academics to remain relevant and sustainable. The main objective of this research was to determine the factors affecting the talent retention of early career academics in selected South African Higher Education Institutions. A mixed-method research approach was used for this study. A Talent Retention Diagnostic Tool was administered among early career academics from selected HEIs (n=117). Follow-up interviews (n=23) were done with early career academics from different HEIs within South Africa. The findings showed that the respondents were slightly satisfied with their compensation. Some respondents alluded to a significant lack of recognition despite high performance. On average it appeared that the participants were satisfied with management support. Some participants however pointed out that more attention should be paid to talent management and performance evaluation. The results further showed that the participants were moderately satisfied with general institutional practices. Compensation and recognition and institutional practices had the largest effect on employees’ intention to quit their jobs. This study identified the factors that potentially affect early career academic’s intentions to quit their profession. HEIs are advised to redevelop talent management practices with regard to compensation and recognition, career development, and general institutional practices to cater for the diverse needs of a new generation of academic staff. HEIs are encouraged to build a supportive work environment for early career academics that will retain them in higher education institutions.

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